LETTER: Patterson’s leadership is undeniable

I have known Brooks Patterson for 50 years. We were law school classmates at the University of Detroit School of Law and after we passed the bar exam and were sworn in as lawyers, our desks were next to each other when we worked as assistant prosecutors together in Oakland County. I not only know the politician, I know the man.

To resurrect tongue-in-cheek rants he had with Coleman Young nearly 40 years ago following Young’s proclamation to Detroit criminals to commit their crimes north of Eight Mile Road, and to have Rev. Charles Williams II, of the Historic King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit and the president of the National Action Network state that “It’s time for your vicious, malicious attack on Detroits … to stop” is nothing short of outrageous.

For 16 years, Brooks served the people of Oakland County as prosecuting attorney. He was firm but fair and could have held the office for life had he so chosen. The public trusted him and he kept our county safe.

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Brooks Patterson for the last 20 years has been an ethical, competent Oakland County executive who helped to stabilize our metro area and, during Detroit’s darkest hours, provided the region with a professionally run environment, offering the housing, shopping and entertainment essential for attracting jobs and residents. Oakland County has flourished under his leadership. His vision and leadership has set the bar for county government and he has been nationally recognized for his many achievements.

Brooks Patterson is a proud, native Detroit. He has ties to Detroit. He worked well with Mayor Dave Bing. He has offered to help Mayor Mike Duggan. To suggest by innuendo that Brooks is a racist is ridiculous; as his friend for our entire professional lifetimes, I resent that.

Jeffrey M. Leib West Bloomfield

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